Fan

Pastoral scenes were a popular type of painted decoration for 18th-century fans. These images of idyllic landscapes allowed wealthy people to escape to an idealised countryside that bore no resemblance to reality. Some pastoral views show activities quite at odds with their outdoor setting. It is as if the characters had been plucked out of a drawing room. For example in this fan a group of people are sitting in a garden watching a young man building a house of cards. The pyramid of cards is quite high, but the next breath of wind would presumably send the cards flying.